Circuit interrupter



June 16, 1925.

3 Sheets-Sheet l gum June i6, 1925. 1,542,501

A. E. GREENE I CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER Filed July 10, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 i2 ii June 16, 1925.

A; E. GREENE cmcurr msr'mumri Filed July 10,- 1-922 3 Sheets-Shem 5 I /Imfl/lll/Illggll Il /14:44all! 1370 921701". CLWCE. a) y.

Patented June 16, 1925.

UNITEDSTATES' PAT NTjoirric AUSTIN nnwm enmm, or MEMORUHILLBIDE;MAssAoHUsET'rs. ASSIGNOR, BY MEsNnassIeNmnM-s 'rocmwnm aLEcrRIcAL-MANUFAcTURINoco PANY, A

CORPORATION OF 'HASSKCHUSETTS.

CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER.

T0 (Law/10m: it mayconcem: i

Be it known that I, Aus'rrn EDWIN GREENE, a citizen of the United States,re-

siding at Medford- Hillside, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Circuit Interrupters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention" relatesto electric switches, f

and especially oil immersed electric s-witcl'ies', of "relatively-high capacity' \Vhen a circuit carrying a relatively heavy load is interrupted under oil, or other are quenching medium," the oil is thrown violently about within the oil receptacle of which would-otherwise pass through the ven'tgand return it to-the oil'chamber- The gaseous ressure' sec-up within the switch by the circuit interrupting arc may be relatively great and a further object is to provide yielding 'means connecting the oil receptacle and "itsTcover whereby to momentarily.increase the expansion space above the oil-in the switch and keep down the pressure rise, and absorb energy resulting from suchincr'ease of pressure, and also to reduce the strain-0n the means-connecting the oil receptacle and cover.

My invention maybe embodi'ed'in a type of switch characterized by having main contact members carried externally by the switch casingand adapted to carrythe current, andauxiliarycontact members disposed within the casing under theoil therein adapted to interruptthe circuit.

It is a further ob'ect of my invention to provide a switch 0 this type with a, relatively yielding 'casing and I cover *and oil catching means and main contact members carried by the fixed oil receptacle of the switch. I p Q With my invention, I am enabled materially to reduce the manufacturing expense of the switch. I p

A further object is generally to improve the construction and operation 'of electric switches. 3

Application filed July 0, 1922. Serial .No. waste.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, of an electric switch embodying my in- 'vention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the switch of Fig. 1. I Fig. is a sectional detail of a modified form of oil'receptacle and oil separator elements'.' y s Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of a modified form of switch casing embodying -my invention. I

Fig. 5 isa plan view of the oil separator element of Fig. 4.

Figs. (3 and 7 are sectional elevations of switch casingssimilar to that of Fig. 4 and illustrating further modified forms of oil separator elements.

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of a switch wherein the cover is fixed in position-and the oil receptacle is yieldinglysupported.

Fig. 9 a detailed sectional elevation of a dash potof the switch of Fig. 8.

In Fig. 1, I have illustrated the' inven tion applied to the specific typevof switch characterized by having main contact members arranged externally of the switch-and auxiliary contactmembers disposed in the oil in the oil receptacle of the switch Fig.

1 illustrates a two pole switching unit with the poles arranged in series. Both poles aresimilar-and but one will be described. The switch includes the cylindrical metal oil receptacle or pot 10 which comprises a terminal of the switch and the cover 11 which preferably, although not necessarily, is formed of metal, for strength. The cover is formedwith a central'aperture and an is supported on top of an insulatingbushing r "15 which is secured to a fixed, and preferably insulating, support 16, and said plate is ormay be fixed in position by the bolt 17 which is threaded in the plate and extended through the bushing. Said bolt may comprise the terminal member of the switch.

A ring 18 is or may be received about and fixedto said oil receptacle intermediate the ends thereof,- and preferablyat the upper" portion thereof. Said ring forms means by which the oil receptacle is secured to said plate 1 1 and tie rods 19 may extend through an outstanding flange 20 of said ring and through said plate 14, and firmly connect said ring and plate, whereby rigidly to secure the receptacle to the plate and support the receptacle in upright position.

r aid oil receptacle is or may be provided with a bottom recess in which an auxiliary stationary contact member Ql is received and electrically connected to the receptacle.

In accordance with my invention, I secure the main contact member 22 to the outer face and at the upper part of the oil receptacle and said contact member is con sequently held in fixed position by the oil receptacle. Said contact member is or may he provided with wedge-shaped contact faces and is extended laterally beyond the cover l1, as shown, for engagement with a suitable main movable contact member.

The movable contact members are or may be secured to and carried by an electricallyconducting bar 25 disposed above the oil receptacles and fixed to a vertically extended rod 96 depending from suitable switch-operating mechanism, not shown. The auxiliary movable contact member comprises a rod 27 secured to and depending from an end of said bar and slidably extended through said insulating bushing 12 into the oil receptacle and adapted to make and break contact with the auxiliary stationary contact member 21 in said receptacle. The main movable contact member may comprise a plurality of spring fingers secured to and depending from an intermediate portion of said bar 25 and adapted to engage the main stationary contact members 22.

The arrangement of the main and auxiliary contact n'ieinbers is such that the auxiliary contact mem )ers are adapted to separate last, whereby to interrupt the circuit under oil.

Oil or other equivalent arc-quenching: medium is adapted to be contained in the oil receptacle to some suitable level (t e. and the space B above the oil and under the cover comprises an expansion space or chamber for the ga and vapor resulting from circuit interruption.

In accordance with my invention, the oil receptacle and cover comprising the switch casing are made relatively yielding and, for this purpose, the oil receptacle is held fixed in position and the cover is arranged to be yielding'ly supported on the oil receptacle. The yielding supporting means may include the rods 30 which may be secured to that portion of the cover extended laterally beyond the receptacle and said rods depend downwardly over the side wall of the receptacle. Said rods may pass slidably through apertures in the flange 20 of the ring: 13 carried by the oil receptacle and coin-- pression springs ll, may encircle the lower ends of said rods and engage the lower face of said flange and nuts 3:? threaded adjustably on the lower ends of said rods. lit is obvious that when a gaseous pressure exists within the gas expansion space ll of the oil receptacle greater than the springs 31 can resist. the cover will move upwardly awayfrom the oil receptacle and relieve such pressure. The effect of said springs 3t may be varied by varying the position oi. the nuts 32 on the rods 30.

Preferably said cover is adapted normally to rest upon the top of the oil receptacle and it the cover and receptacle are nnughined to form a good seat, the cas ng will be practically scaled until the gas pressure within the switch is sutlicient to raise the cover and pen mit the gas to escape to the atmosphere over the top of the oil receptacle. Ordinarily. however. there may be a restricted vent passage between the cover and the top of the receptacle through which the switch may breathe.

The gas and vapor expelled from the switch during: circuit interruption may be highly heated and partially electrically conducting; consctpiently, means are or may be provided to direct such gas and vapor downwardly and away from the movable contact members. Said means may comprise a depending annular flange or apron l 11" which may be integrally formed with the cover ll and enclose the top portion of the. oil rece 'itacle and depend downwardly over the side thereof a distance to guide downwardly gran and vapor expelled from the switch. Pre er ably. said flange, peripherally spaced from the side wall of the oil l'titcptflcle to 'u'ovidc a narrow ehanne 3 3 down which the heated gas may pass. and the cooling etlect ot' the cool walls of the flange and receptacle may in .erially reduce the temperature o l' the gas as it is discharged into the atmosphere.

It an object of this invention to provide means to separate oil which would otherwise be expelled from the switch and return it to the main body of oil in the oil receptacle and said means. preferably. is contained within the switch casing. ln Fig. l. the separating, means may include the cylindrically-shaped element 37 which is re ceived within the upper portion of th oil receptacle and spaced from the side wall thereof to provide an annular chamber or compartment C in which the oil separated from the gas stream passing toward the vent is deposited to he returned to the main body of oil in the receptacle.

Said separator element extends upwardly toward the cover 11 and may terminate adjacent the lower face of the cover to provide an annular passage -7-6 of relatively small height over the .top of the element formed.

and under the cover through'which the combined stream of gas and oil is adapted to pass, or said passage may be otherwise Said cover is or may be formed with an annular depending flange or apron 11 adapted to surround the upper portion of said separator element and depend below the annular passage 36 and downwardly over the sidewall thereof and intothe annular compartment C and, preferably, said flange is spaced from the separator element to provide a narrow annular passage 37 down which gas and oil are guided into said compartment C. Hot gas and oil may be cooled, and oil vapor may be condensed by-contact with the relatively cool -flange 11' and the wall of the separator element. said flangell has such downward extent that it serves to direct downwardly into the compartment C the gas stream assing from the gas expansion chamber 3' when the cover is moved-u )ward by the gas pressure within said chain erB.

Said separator element preferably extends below the surface of *oil in the oil receptacle and may be arranged to provide communication between the compartment C and the oil space in the receptacle, wherebyto provide for the returntothe main body of oil of the oil separated from the gas stream and collected in the compartment C. For this purpose, said separator 'element may be formed or provided with the outwardly extended annular wall 38 which may form the bottom wall of said compartment 0, and said wall maybe formed with the apertures 39 therein which, preferably, are disposed below the: level of.the oil in the receptacle. Said separator element mayalso be formed or provided with the lower cylindrical wall 41 adapted to'be supported removably or befixed to the wall ofrthe oil receptacle in a suitable manner.

As. thus arranged, oil may be in the compartmentsB and C to the same level and preferably above the apertures 39, and said compartments may be in gaseous communication only byineans of the passages 36 and v.37and have the same pressure conditions,

and be normally at atmospherle )ressure.

\Vhen the movable contact mem ers are moved upwardly and an are 18 drawn between the auxiliary contact members in the .oil receptacle a considerable amount of gas and oil vapor may be generated, due to the heat of the arc, and oil may be expelled violently upward. The. increase in gaseous pressure may effect .the yielding and conse -quent upward movement of the cover 11 against the. action of the springs. 31. .The streamofcombined gas and oil, some of which may be in the form of oil vapor, may

pass through the passage 36 and down" i'rthrongh. the assage'37 into the annular compartment 011 may be separated from Preferably,

stantially oil free gas may pass between'the oilyreceptaclc"and the cover into the passage 33 and'downwardly' into the atmosphere.

The arrangcn' cnt of the apparatus may be very effective in separating the oil fromthe gas stream. The gas stream passes downwardly in the passage 37 "and abruptly over the lower edge of the flange 11 and thence upwardly. As the gas stream passes over the lower edge of said flange it is given an abrupt'change in direction;of=niotion and oil contained in the gas stream, being heavier than the gas, is projected downwardly out of the gas stream at this point, due to centrifugal action,-and into the relati vely motionless or dead gas space in the compartment C, and is collected in said compartment and returned to the main body of oil in the receptacle. ()il vapor condensed in the passage 37 is also collected in the compartment G and but relatively oil-free gas is discharged from theswitch. It is preferable that the gas stream be guided to make an abrupt turn over the dead gas space in said compartment rather than to pass more or less horizontally beneath the surface of the oil, rather than above the surface,as, with-the latter arrangement, gasmay pass through saidpassage and pick upand carry outof the switch, oil that may be separated from the gas stream in the upper part of said compartment. \Vhen oil'coversthe communieating passage, the oil catching compartment will be sealed so far as passageof gas through said passage is concerned.

In the modification"illustrated in Fig. 3, the upper portion of the oil receptacle is formed with the reduced n'eck-portion' lOF and a tubular member35 is secured to the receptacle about the neck whereby to-iorn'i the annular compartment C. This construction is identical in function with that illustrated in Fig.1.

'l he in ve-ntion is alsonpplicable to switches having oil receptacles of other than cylindrical formation. Fig; 4. illustrates a switch having the fixed-switch frame 45 which forms a cover for the rectangular oil receptacle 4r6, and said receptacle may be secured to and depend yicldingly from the cover by means of the bolts 47 and springs 48f I Said cover may be formed with a depending'pe- I ripheral flange or apron 45 adapted to be received within .the oil receptacle. A sepano rator element 49 'of substantially rect'an ,eulair formation may he received within said oil receptacle and may rest upon the insulatinglining disposed within the lower portion of the receptacle. Said separator element may have its upper end disposed within said flange 45 and be arranged and function in the manner set forth in connection with Fig. 1.

ln Fig. T, the separator element comprises a rectangular shell secured by bolts tit; to and in spaced relation with the wall of the oil receptacle and the passage 57 between said shell and the oil receptacle, or the lining 5o thereo't. provides lluid com' munication between the annular compartment C and the main body o'i oil in the receptacle.

I may support the separator element by the cover instead of the oil receptacle and Fig. 6 illustrates such an arrangement. The separator element may comprise a, rectau gular shell similar to the element 23?) ot Fig. T and may be secured to and spaced from the flange 61 ot' the cover (51 hy holts 62 and depend toward and terminate pre 1 erahly below the surface of oil in the. oil receptacle.

It is not essential that the compartment 6 he placed in communication with the oil compartment ot the switch and Fin. 8 illustrates an arrangement wherein the compartment C, which is equivalent of the coinpartment C of Fig. 1 is sealed from liquid communication with the oil space or" the oil receptacle. For this purpose, an annular member 65 may he disposed about and spaced from the upper portion of the c v lindrical. oil receptacle G6, and. the lower wall (37 0t said annular member may he fixed in fluid tight engagement with the wall of the oil receptacle as by welding it thereto. The annular con'ipartment fl is adapted to he relatively deep whereby to contain a substantial amount Oil' oil, which oil may be expelled from the interior of the switch in successive switching operations.

Said oil receptacle (it; may be secured yieldingly to the fixed cover (38 by means of the rods 69 which are or may be secured to said cover and extend slidably through apertures in the ring 70 secured to the receptacle. Springs 71 may encircle the lower ends of said rods and bear against abutments T2 of" said rods and the lower taco o i" said ring whereby to force the oil receptacle yieldingly against the cover.

Means may be provided to retard the upward movement of the oil receptacle and said means may include the dash pots To secured in fluid tight engagement with and depending from the ring 70 of the oil receptacle and enclosing the lower ends ot said rods 69 and the springs thereon. 1is tons 76 may be slidably received on the ends of said rods between the upper abutments i2 and lower stop-pins T7 and arranged to control passages T3 in said rods which are arranged to establish fluid com-- munication between the hortions ot the dash pots disposed on opposite sides of said pistons. Said dash pots may he tilled with oil or other suitable fluid.

ll licn the oil receptacle moves downwardly from its cover in response to gaseous pressure conditions within the switch. said dash pots are carried downwardly with the. oil receptacle, and the pressure of the oil on the upper side oi the piston To moves said pistons downwardly on the rods (it) to uncover the pas es Th whereby to permit substantially tree fluid cominunication he tween the upper and lower portions of said dash pots and conse piently the substantially iuirc:-;trictcd downward movement of" the oil recin itaclc. When said receptacle subse qneutly begins to move upward under the action of th springs Tl, said pistons to are llltiYt ltl flitll'tll v' under tluid pressure to close es 78. The rate of upward movement or said rece tacle is then governed hy the rate of fluid lealv'ages between the edge ot the pistons and the walls of the dash pots, or equivalent leal; passages, and the oil receptacle may he returned lualiy and without shock to its normal li n beneath the cover thcreot.

"the construction herein shown may be. modified without departing from the spirit: of the invention.

I claim:

1. An oil receptacle tor an electric switch constructed and arranged to provide a lower oil-containing compartment and an upper oil-catchin compartment hoth arrangci'l for interconununication at the upper portions the-root, said oil-catching compartment hav ing a bottom normally scaled against pas sage ot gas thercthrough. 4

2. An electric switch having: an oil receptacle constructed and arrane'ed to pro vide a lower oil-containing compartment and an upper oil-catching eom 'iartinent both arranged for interconnnunication at the upper portions thereot, said oil-catching con'ipartnient' having a normally s aled bottom, and a single cover for both compart nients.

3. An oil receptacle for an electric switch constructed and arran ed to provide a single-walled lower portion and a doublewalled upper portion with the walls thereof constructed and spaced to provide an upper oil catchii'ig' compartment normally sealed against gas entrai'ice at the bottom and ha lug a gas entrance at the top.

4;. An oil receptacle. for an electric switch constructed and arranged to provide a sin glenvalled lower portion and a doublewalled upper portion with the walls thereof constructed and spaced to provide an upper oiLcatching compartment. normally sealed oil level in the"receptacle,'said-com rtment having its bottom normally scale aga nst gas entrance and having an open top by which gas can enter the compartment. i

6. An'oil receptacle for an electric switch having a member carried byand secured to and spaced from the upper portion thereof and constructed andarran ed to provide an upper peripheral oil'catching compartment normally sealed a ainst gas entrancethereto at the bottom an open :for gas entrance at the top.

7. .An oil receptacle 'for an electric switch constructed and arranged to'provideanoil containing compartment and an oilscatching compartment disposed mainly abovethe oil level in the oil-containing compartment and open at the top and in communicationat the bottom with said oil-containing compartmentbeneath'the oil level therein.

8. An oil receptacle for an electric switch constructed and'arranged to [provide an oilcontaining COIIIPBJUHBIIU an a peripheral oil-catching compartment disposed mainly above the oil level in' the oil-containing compartment and open at the top and in communication at the bottom with said oilcontaining compartment beneath .the oil level thereinl 9. An electric switch including a cover and an oil receptacledisposed beneath said cover constructed and arranged to rovide a. compartment adapted. tocontain oi and the switch members, and an oil-catching compartment disposed mainly above the oil level in the-oil-contai'ning compartment and having a normally, sealed bottom, said compartments arranged for intercommnnication above the oil'level and under thccover;

10. An electric switch'inoluding a cover and any oil receptacledisposed beneath said cover" constructed and arran ed to" provide alower compartment adapte to contain oil and the switch members,- and an upper oil-, catching corn artinent arranged for communication with said ifirst compartment-at the top and at-th'e bottom beneath the oil level in said receptacle:

11. Am electric switch having a cover, and an oilreceptacle disposed beneath said cover,' said oil receptacle having an oil-containing compartment and" an oil-catching compartment disposed mainly above the oil level 'insaid oil-containingcompartment and arranged foe-gaseous c'omnnmication with said lower compartment at its top under the cover, anddeceit-communication at its bottem, the.oil in the receptacle adapted tofill both compartments normallyc'tolthe same level. i

12. 'An electric switch 'ha'vinglupper and lower compartments, said lower compartment arranged'to contain oil and the switch members and vent into-the upper compartment, said upper compartment arranged-to vent into the atmosphere and having a passage at the bottom in communication with said lower compartment beloivthe oil level therein.

12$..An electric'switcli having two compartments, said "first compartment arranged tocontain oil and the switch membersand vent into the second "compartment, said second compartment arranged to ventint'o peripheral compartment whit-his arranged for fluid communication with the oil space in the receptacle below theoil'level therein.

1.5:An electric-switch comprising an oil receptacle and-a cover therefor and a memberdisposed within the upper portion of the receptaclefiand spaced from 'the sidewall of the receptacle"to-providea peripheral compartment extended downwardly below the oil level in the -receptaclcwid member and cover cooperating to provide a com municating passage between the oil receptacle andsai-d compartment.-

16i-An electric switch comprising an 'oil receptacle and a cover therefor,--and a member disposed within 'the upper-portion of the receptacle andspaced from the sidewall of the receptacle to provide a peripheral compartment extended-downwardly below the oillevel in the receptacle, and having oil communication with the oilin said receptaclebelow the oil level therein and gaseous communication with said receptacle at'the top of said peripheral compartment. 17; .An electric switch having an oil re-' ceptacle, a .member-ireceived in the upper portion of said .oil receptacleandhaving a side Wall spaced from .the side wall ;of the receptacle to provide a peripheral compartment, said vmember iextended downwardly below the oil level in the. receptacle. and havingv an outstanding bottom wallcarried by the receptacle which has an aperturetherein submerged in the=oil in therecepta-cle.

18. Anelectric switch havingjan oil receptacle, amember received in theupper poi:

tion-of said oil receptacle andhaving a side wall spaced from the side wall of the receptacle to provide a peripheral compartment, said member extended downwardly below the oil level in the receptacle and having an outstanding bottom wall carried by the receptacle which has an aperture therein in the oil in the receptacle, and a cover for said receptacle and compartment, said compartment and oil receptacle arranged for gaseous intercommnnication at the top under the cover.

19. An electric switch having the combination of a fixed oil receptacle, a yieldingly supported cover for said receptacle, a main fixed contact member carried by said receptacle, a fixed auxiliary contact member disposed beneath the oil in said receptacle, and movable main and auxiliary contact members cooperating with said fixed contact members.

20. An electric switch having the combination of a fixed oil receptacle, a yieldingly supported cover for said receptacle, a fixed main contact member arried externally by said oil receptacle, a fixed auxiliary contact member disposed beneath the oil in said receptacle and movable main and auxiliary contact members cooperating with said fixed contact members.

2i. An electric switch having the combination of a fixed oil receptacle adapted to form one terminal of the switch, a cover tor said receptacle, means yieldingly connects ing said cover and receptacle, a fixed main contact member carried externally by said oil receptacle, a fixed auxiliary contact member disposed beneath the oil in said oil receptacle, a movable main contact member cooperating with said fixed main contact member, and a movable auxiliary contact member extended through said yieldingly supported cover for cooperation with said fixed auxiliary contact member.

An electric switch comprising the combination of a fixed oil receptacle torming a terminal of the switch and having an oil-catching compartment in communication with the interior of said receptacle and also with the atmosphere, a cover for said recelr tacle and compartment, a fixed external main contact member carried by the oil receptacle. a fixed auxiliary contact member disposed beneath the oil in the oil recep tacle. and movable main and auxiliary contact members cooperating with said fixed contact members.

23. An electric switch comprising the combination ot' a fixed oil receptacle torming a terminal of the switch and having an oil-catching compartment, a cover tor said receptacle and compartment, means yieldingly supporting said cover in position. a fixed external main contact member connected with the oil receptacle, a fixed aux iliary contact member disposed beneath the oil in the oil receptacle, and movable main and auxiliary contact members cooperating with said fixed contact members.

2st. An electric switch comprising the combination of a fixed oil receptacle forming a terminal of the switch and having an oilcatching compartment, a cover for said re ceptacle and compartment having a flange depending into said compartment, a fixed external main contact member connected with the oil receptacle, a. fixed auxiliary contact member disposed beneath the oil in the oil receptacle, and movable main and auxiliary contact members cooperating with said fixed contact members.

An electric switch comprising the combination of a fixed oil receptacle forming a terminal of the switch and having an oil-catching compartment, a cover for said receptacle and compartment having a flange depending into said compartment, means yieldingly supporting said cover in position, a fixed external main contact member connected with the oil receptacle, a fixed auxiliary contact. member disposed beneath the oil in the oil receptacle, and movable main and auxiliary contact members cooperating with said fixed contact members.

26. An electric switch comprisin the ceml'iination of a fixed oil receptacle forming a terminal of the switch and having an oil-catching compartment, a cover for said receptacle and compartment, said switch arranged to vent into said compartment and thence into the atmosphere, said cover having a flange depending into and spaced from the walls of said compartment, :1 fixed external main contact member carried by said oil receptacle, a fixed auxiliary contact l1l8lllber disposed beneath the oil in the oil recep tacle, and movable main and auxiliary contact members cooperating with said fixed contact members.

27. An electric switch comprising the con'ibiuation of a fixed oil receptacle forming a terminal of the switch and having an oil-catching con'ipartment, a cover t'or said receptacle and compartment, said switch an ranged to vent into said conipartment and thence into the atmosphere, said cover ha\'-- ing a flange depending into and spaced from the walls of said compartment, means yieldingly SUPPOItlDg said cover in position, a fixed external main contact member carried by said oil receptacle, a. fixed auxiliary contact member disposed beneath the oil in the oil receptacle, and movable main and auxiliary contact members cooperating with said fixed contact members.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

AUSTIN EDWIN GREENE.

lUU 

